RTD completes Yale Ave. bridge ahead of schedule

Denver's Regional Transportation District (RTD), Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) and SEMA Construction will celebrate the reopening of the Yale Avenue Bridge over I-225 two months early on October 5.

The bridge was rebuilt to make room for the expansion of the I-225 light rail and the widening of the highway. The Yale Avenue Bridge was estimated to be closed for six months during reconstruction, but crews worked to get it finished earlier.

"We appreciate the tireless work and dedication that our partners SEMA and CDOT put into this effort," said Tom Tobiassen, RTD Board director. "Getting the bridge opened ahead of schedule is not only an example of successful construction, but also minimizes the impact to the community."

SEMA is building the I-225 light-rail segment from Nine Mile to Iliff. The remainder of the project from Iliff to Peoria/Smith Station will be constructed by Kiewit Infrastructure Co. This summer, the RTD Board of Directors formally approved Kiewit's proposal to complete the I-225 light-rail line to Peoria by November 2015. The line is planned to open in mid-2016 after about six months of testing.

The I-225 rail line project is part of RTD's FasTracks program. It is a 10.5-mile light-rail extension that will travel through the city of Aurora and a small section of Denver.